Locking blower nozzle with air bleed

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method and system to adjust the outflow of exhaust air that flows out of a nozzle outlet attached to a removable vacuum unit of a wet and dry vacuum cleaner. This adjustment allows the vacuum unit to perform at full operating capacity in a vacuum mode and yet reduce the air flow in a blower mode with the vacuum unit operating as if in the vacuum mode. The nozzle can include an air diverter that allows air in the nozzle to be diverted away from nozzle outlet. The air diverter can be adjusted to a variety of positions for controlling the amount of air diversion. The nozzle can be removably coupled with the vacuum outlet using a latch. An inlet ring on the nozzle having an enclosed portion can engage the vacuum outlet on the vacuum unit and stabilize the nozzle coupling to the vacuum unit.

1 . A wet and dry vacuum cleaner system comprising: 
 a container for receiving debris;    a lid attachable with the container;    a vacuum unit adapted to be removably coupled with the lid, the vacuum unit having a vacuum inlet and a vacuum outlet; and    a nozzle adapted to be removably coupled with the vacuum outlet when the vacuum unit is detached from the lid, the nozzle comprising a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet and an air diverter adapted to exhaust air from the nozzle intermediate between the nozzle inlet and nozzle outlet.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the air diverter comprises an opening formed in a nozzle wall and a cover ring adapted to slidably at least partially cover the opening.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the cover ring is disposed between at least two flanges to retain the cover ring longitudinally along the nozzle as the cover ring is rotated radially over the opening.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle inlet further comprises a latch adapted to be removably coupled with the vacuum outlet.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the nozzle inlet further comprises an inlet ring having an enclosed portion and adapted to engage the vacuum outlet.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the inlet ring stabilizes the nozzle when coupled to the vacuum unit in cooperation with the latch.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum inlet of the vacuum unit is fluidicly coupled to an inlet on the container, the lid, or a combination thereof when the vacuum unit is coupled with the lid.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum unit is fluidicly coupled to a filter mounted to the lid when the vacuum unit is coupled with the lid.  
   
   
       9 . A method of using the vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  as a blower, comprising: 
 decoupling the vacuum unit from the lid;    attaching the nozzle inlet to the vacuum outlet;    activating the vacuum unit;    flowing a positively pressurized air through the nozzle; and    diverting a portion of the air through the air diverter to reduce air flow through the nozzle outlet.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising latching the nozzle to the vacuum unit.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising stabilizing the nozzle inlet coupled to the vacuum outlet with an inlet ring coupled to the nozzle.  
   
   
       12 . A wet and dry vacuum cleaner system, comprising: 
 a container for receiving debris;    a lid attachable with the container;    a vacuum unit removably coupled with the lid, the vacuum unit having a vacuum inlet and a vacuum outlet;    a nozzle removably coupled with the vacuum outlet when the vacuum unit is detached from the lid; and    a latch coupled to the nozzle, the vacuum unit, or a combination thereof and adapted to removably couple the nozzle with the vacuum unit.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the nozzle inlet further comprises an inlet ring having an enclosed portion and being aligned with the latch and adapted to engage the vacuum outlet.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the inlet ring stabilizes the nozzle when coupled to the vacuum unit in cooperation with the latch.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the nozzle further comprises an air diverter adapted to exhaust air from the nozzle intermediate between the nozzle inlet and outlet wherein the air diverter comprises an opening formed in a nozzle wall and a cover ring adapted to slidably at least partially cover the opening.